Best New Releases from June 2020
The month of June brings warm weather, gardens into full bloom, the official first day of summer, and a slew of fantastic releases in the likes of Cleveland, Human Space Machine, Estrato Aurora, Pugilist, Upsammy, Pye Corner Audio, John Talabot, Mènage, Leon Revol, Carmel & Salomo, and Davis.
Human Space Machine
Danz7
On Board Music
Laura B.C.R.'s On esBoard Music celebrates its 5th anniversary with an extensive various artist compilation "The Meaning Of Time." The new project from the well-curated label is "a 23-track compilation exploring the rift and alteration in time perception in the global health crisis that's crippled all sides of our societies has engaged amongst artists and creators. The dedicated goal of this charity V/A is both to document this very special time in our lives and serve as a means of solidarity when most of us out there are struggling to make a living. Content wise, and true to the essence of our vision as a label, the music mainly spans the techno and ambient spectrums, with original content. 50% of the benefits from the sales will go to the involved artists, whilst the remaining 50% will be donated to Sea-Watch - a German N.G.O. that rescues migrants in the Mediterranean, notably by commissioning rescue ships."
The compilation features the legendary DJ/Producer I:Cube, De Lichting affiliate Human Space Machine, the label boss Laura B.C.R., and more from producers including Shoal, CORE, Estrato Aurora, Uanamani, Yugen, among others.
Human Space Machine's On-Board Music debut is a mesmerizing deep techno contribution "Danz7". It conjures up a meditative techno world of shifting lo-fi textures, introspective rhythms inflected with acid flourishes, and dub techno influences.
Estrato Aurora
OM (feat. Siarem)
NNY. Records
With contributions to Appian Records, the London label Bliq and his own platform, Discos Pandémicos, Valencian producer Estrato Aurora has continued his work to breathe life into deep, immersive techno by masterfully maintaining an elusive balance between texture and rhythm. His latest release "Atan" EP combines deep techno, hazy dub, vibrant electro, IDM, and ambiance introspection across hardware-driven four tracks, appearing as yet another outstanding installment in Madrid's NNT Records catalogue.
A slowly unfurling "OM ( Feat. Siarem)" starts with a panoramic synth and beautifully forms a stunning musical journey built upon subtle, evocative moods and acid-injected breakbeat rhythms shimmering brightly with widescreen radiance.
Pugilist
Quick Fix
3024
Enriching the vibrant sonic canvas, Melbourne producer Pugilist marks his debut release on the Rotterdam-based 3024 imprint with four tracks of storming Detroit electro, breaks, UK 2-step, and leftfield bass-led electro.
The breakbeat fueled "Quick FixThe" maintains a sharp Detroit electro edge while the elements at the forefront shift between diverse driving percussion, sparkling synths, and twisted funky bassline.
Cleveland
Gamma
Kalahari Oyster Cult
Brussel-based Cleveland strikes a balance between psychedelic house and retro-futuristic experiments with his debut "Gamma" EP on the Amsterdam-based Kalahari Oyster Cult. The two-track release accompanied by a pair of impressive remixes from Brooklyn-based DJ and producer Beta Librae and Italian producer Piezo.
'Gamma' is aptly titled as its sophisticated, asymmetrical rhythmic patterns formed from sun-drenched vintage synth and densely distorted machine sounds emerge into a delicate electronic weirdness that accentuates the retro-futurist feel.
Carmel & Salomo
Forrest At Night
R.A.N.D. Muzik Recordings
Leipzig based producers, Salomo & Carmel join forces for a sonically diverse release with extended forays into electro, house, techno, and on RAND Muzik Recordings. "Happy Hour" is an impressive record that touches on a variety of moods and rhythms that stem from a similar creative space.
The breakbeat electro flair of the fourth track "Forrest At Night," evokes a beautiful and spacey atmosphere with its distant pads, dreamy melodic undertones, and bassline driven percussive rhythms.
Upsammy
Overflowering
Dekmantel
Having shown talent and style on Dir Orakel, Whities (new name AD 93), Nous'klaer Audio, Thessa Torsing, under the moniker upsammy, delivers her first full-length album through Dekmantel. Taking influences from Autechre, Plaid, B12, and Finish producer Aleksi Perälä, the Dutch producer experiments with organic IDM sound palette to create metaphoric miniatures reflective of delicate and rarely noticeable surroundings, and wandering observations that suit its fragile ambiance.
Here is what Torsing intended to say about the release via Facebook:
"The name of my album will be 'Zoom.' To the contrary of the popular app right now; it refers to zooming into your surroundings and inhabiting the small yet extraordinary corners in life. On the cover, you see my hand holding a piece of melting ice, and while looking at it, I was there and nowhere else. In a way, it is about that feeling."
On the C-side, "Overflowering" blends both polymorphic rhythms and layered harmonies composed of textured synth washes and aquatic field recordings arranged and manipulated in an immersive fashion.
Mènage
T.O.A.
Animalia
Kia inaugurates her new record label Animalia with outstanding various artists release, which, "comprises of psychedelic, bass-driven music, all produced in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, providing a small window into the studios of the city's deeper side." The first vinyl debut features contributions from Ménage, Sam & Jack Brickel, Dashiell & Iota employing excellent production techniques.
Mènage's "TOA" blossoms from the cosmic edge provided by oscillating cinematic synth waves and scattered patterns of rolling bassline that gives its percussive breakbeat groove a spacious feel.
Davis
Fissura Na Neblina
Live At Robert Johnson
Davis returns to Live At Robert Johnson with a dynamic flourish of his musical ability, utilizing TR-808, Juno, MS-20 , and touching on multiple styles of house and electro while handcrafting them to fit his futuristic signature sound. Entitled "Dance Peralta" EP, the package consists of six menacing tracks, "conjuring that signature new school vibe with a true vintage touch, every track pulls its weight with bubbling basslines and/or funky synths."
The closing track on the record "Fissura Na Neblina" is an entrancing electro excursion filled with a fruitful twist of retro-futuristic melodies mixed with a raw and driving power.
Leon Revol
Stuck In The Island
Church
Leon Revol returns to the foreground of electronic music's vast sonic landscape with a debut album on Seb Wildblood's Church imprint. Inspired by and produced in his hometown Bordeaux, 'Enter A Zircon' spirals across nine tracks bringing forward a wide range of deep and ambient instrumental sounds and rhythms.
One of the stand out tracks on the album "Stuck In The Island "delves deep into Leon Revol's expansive musical palette with shades of ambient undertones, silky analogue waves, and emotive tendencies.
Pye Corner Audio
Resist (John Talabot Remix)
Lapsus Records
Martin Jenkins, better known as Pye Corner Audio, follows up his successful 2017 "Where Things Are Hollow" EP with a sequel that continues in the vein of dreamy ambient and warm techno fusion. 'Where Things Are Hollow 2' EP includes three original tracks and a remix of "Resist" by John Talabot, released initially on its predecessor.
John Talabot brings his trademark meditative funk to Barcelona-based Lapsus Records with his electro-industrial re-interpretation of "Resist". An eight-minute excursion of spine-tingling sequenced basslines, scrawling modulations, and edgy elements of EBM, John Talabot's remix version is an extended leftfield electro trip for ages.